A STILL Game star who has signed up for the Beacon's special 2020 festive film says Inverclyde audiences are still the best in the business.

Actor Mark Cox, best known for playing Tam Mullen in the BBC comedy, has starred in the Beacon panto for the last five years.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the theatre's pantomime has been cancelled this year but a festive film is being made instead.

Mark will be part of the team involved in 'Magical Beacon Stone', which will be filmed at iconic locations all over Inverclyde.

The actor says he'll miss treading the boards this year but is delighted to still be able to spend time in a town which has a place in his heart,

Mark said: "Greenock is such a great place to work, I've always said that.

"I've played in a lot of different places but there's definitely something old school about Inverclyde audiences.

"The schoolkids in Inverclyde are always the best behaved kids as well.

"They're just there to have a great time.

"It's so lovely to see and we're really going to miss the panto this year.

"We're all looking forward to creating something really different.

"I think it will be great fun."

Mark, who has also starred in Outlander and in the drama series Shetland, will be joined in the film by fellow Still Game actor Jane McCarry, who plays Isa.

The Tele recently reported how Beacon panto stalwart Jane has cemented her links with Inverclyde even further by being appointed as a support teacher at Craigmarloch School in Port Glasgow.

The duo will be joined in the festive film by Jimmy Chisholm, who stars in River City.

The cast will assemble for a three-day £25,000 shoot across Inverclyde later this month.

Landmark buildings and venues across the area will be included in the script and local schoolkids will get the chance to see the film first before it's available on the Beacon website.

Mark says things are understandably a bit different just now due to coronavirus restrictions but says the cast are determined that the show must go on.

He added: "Television and film have been working quite well but with live theatre, it's obviously very different.

"We need to get into the way of it.

"We all know each other and have all worked together before so it will be great fun."

Mark says he always relishes the trip down to Greenock for work and insists the Beacon is top of the class when it comes to Scottish venues.

He added: "The drive down to Inverclyde is just beautiful.

"It feels to me like a natural place to come and work.

"I think the Beacon;s the best theatre in Scotland.

"There's a really great feeling about it.

"It's definitely the jewel in the crown of Inverclyde - that view out over the Clyde is spectacular.

"We're really looking forward to getting back onto the stage there one day."